Why would they even consider reducing the punishment for the two soldiers who had asked prior to the event not to have to suffer the horrific indignity of a female soloist? That should make it worse – not only did they defy orders, they did so with premeditation. They were told before the event AND when they tried to leave that their behavior was unacceptable!

The soldiers told Colonel Niv that “if this incident has anything to do with our abilities as officers, it is that being strict about the rules of Halacha proves that we will be better officers. You could have been more sensitive toward us, as this is a well-known problem, and all we asked was that female soldiers wouldn’t sing alone.”

So the mark of a good officer is how petulant they become to the insensitivity of their commanding officers to their bizarre, unreasonable demands?! Clearly, their military academy failed them. “Listen to your commanding officer” ought to be lesson #1. It’s a military, not a daycare.

You could have been more sensitive toward us, as this is a well-known problem, and all we asked was that female soldiers wouldn’t sing alone.

Why do bigots always demand we be sensitive to their beliefs? It’s like they’re all reading the same rule book.

btw, Sir, what you are displaying aren’t the qualities of a good officer. A good officer is flexible, always willing to adapt to new circumstances and to set aside his personal beliefs when they get in the way of the mission or unit cohesion. What you are showcasing is an incredibly dogmatic mind, an unwillingness to work with your piers and a very belligerent attitude towards your superiors.